1. Characterization

2. Characterization is…
the process by which the
writer reveals the
personality of a character.

3. Analyzing Characterization
Making judgments
(or evaluations)
about the character

4. INFERENCES
Guesses made regarding a situation, using one’s understanding of context clues

5. personality of the character
DIRECT – tells the
personality of the character
Ex: “The patient boy and quiet girl both well-mannered and didn’t disobey their mother.”

6. INDIRECT – shows things that reveal character’s personality

7. INDIRECT (continued)
S peech (what character says)
T houghts (what character thinks)
E ffect on others (how interacts with others)
A ctions (what character does)
L ooks (how character looks / dresses)

9. Credible
Character is believable (could actually exist)
Not Credible
Character seems fake

10. Is the character believable?
Would you expect to run into him or her in everyday life?
YES!
NOPE
= Credible
= Not credible

11. Credible or not?

12. Rounded
Character is complicated with multiple dimensions
Flat
Character only has a single trait

13. Does the character have multiple personality traits?
Does he/she feel more than a single emotion?
YES!
NOPE
= Rounded
= Flat

14. Rounded or flat?

15. Stock
Character fits an exact stereotype; seems unoriginal
Unique
Character is unlike others

16. Is the character a stereotype?
Is the character just one of many like him/her?
YES!
NOPE
= Stock
= Unique

17. Stock or unique?

18. Dynamic
Character undergoes some change and/or gains a new understanding
Static
Character stays the same

19. Does the character grow or change in some way?
YES!
NOPE
= Dynamic
= Static

20. Static or dynamic?

21. S peech T houghts E ffects on others A ctions L ooks
Indirect Characterization
Example
Meaning
S peech
T houghts
E ffects on others
A ctions
L ooks